Following the news that Electronic Arts had successfully been acquired in a private transaction worth $55bn, one upcoming release takes on a brand-new milestone.
Over the weekend, it was revealed that a group of investors, including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, had acquired the video game company Electronic Arts.
Best known for IPs such as Battlefield, The Sims, Mass Effect and more, fans of such games can expect some big changes to go into effect once the transaction officially wraps up in Q1 FY27.
EA chairman and CEO Andrew Wilson will continue to head the company and it was he who made the official announcement earlier this week.
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"Our creative and passionate teams at EA have delivered extraordinary experiences for hundreds of millions of fans, built some of the world's most iconic IP, and created significant value for our business. This moment is a powerful recognition of their remarkable work," said Wilson.
"Looking ahead, we will continue to push the boundaries of entertainment, sports, and technology, unlocking new opportunities.
Together with our partners, we will create transformative experiences to inspire generations to come. I am more energised than ever about the future we are building."
As well as its latest EA acquisition, the Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund also owns shares in some other notable video game companies such as Capcom, Embracer, Nintendo and Take-Two Interactive.
Best known for being the parent company to Rockstar Games, Take-Two Interactive reportedly rejected an offer to be acquired by EA back in 2008, believing that the company’s true value was a lot higher.
As a result, and despite Saudi Arabia’s PIF shares, Take-Two Interactive is now the largest independent publisher which will spell good news for the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI.
Set to launch on 26 May 2026, Grand Theft Auto VI has successfully marked itself as the most anticipated video game release of all time and it will be reassuring for fans to hear that, due to Take-Two’s independence, the hit Rockstar series should remain unchanged whatever the future may bring.
The news of the acquisition has cast something of a dark cloud over the video game industry with some of EA’s most successful games including The Sims and Mass Effect showing the importance of LGBTQIA+ relationships.
However, with same-sex relationships still being illegal in Saudi Arabia, this could spell major changes for these IPs in the future.
It remains to be seen how this acquisition will affect the video game industry but for now, it just means that Grand Theft Auto VI hits yet another milestone ahead of its highly anticipated release.
Topics: GTA, GTA 6, Grand Theft Auto, Rockstar Games, Take-Two